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Issues Related to Classification
Athletes, coaches, officials, and classifiers have engaged in
considerable debate about the efficacy of the classification
systems currently used in international competitions. Some
common threads to this discussion include eligibility to
compete, fairness of the classification system, measurement
issues, qualifications and training of classifiers, and the
expense of classification.
Eligibility to Compete
 | Where should the line be drawn between athletes who have a disability
and those who do not? How should the minimum acceptable level of
disability for each sport be determined? |
| To what extent should classification systems protect the right of
persons with severe disabilities to compete? |
| Should "able-bodied," sighted, or hearing athletes be permitted to
participate in disability sports? If so, under what conditions and in
which sports? |
| Should persons with certain disabilities be prohibited from
participating in certain sports because of concerns related to personal
safety or the safety of other athletes (e.g., should dwarfs play
basketball if participation is likely to result in knee injuries)? If
restrictions are advisable, who should make the decisions? |
Fairness of the Classification System
| What is competition? How many athletes are needed in an event for a
true athletic contest? What is the value of being able to say that an
athlete won the gold medal in a classification where s/he was the only
competitor (e.g., I once had a teammate who claimed to be the world
record-holder for men over 45 who were ex-policemen, over 250 pounds in
weight). At what point does classification become ridiculous? |
| Is it more fair for an athlete to compete under a disability-specific
(medical) system against other athletes with the
same disability, under a sport-specific
(functional) system in which athletes have
similar functional abilities but different disabilities,
or under a performance-based system? |
Measurement Issues
| Are the classification systems in each sport designed to measure
factors that are associated with performance in those sports (e.g., have
the sport governing bodies selected the right factors to measure?) |
| Do the classification tests in each sport actually measure the factors
they are supposed to measure (e.g., is the test of basketball shooting an
effective test of that skill)? |
| Is training and conditioning likely to affect an athlete's
classification status? Should this be a factor? |
| Does available sports equipment affect an an athlete's classification
status? Should this be a factor? |
| Are classification tests administered under appropriate motivational
and environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, humidity) so that the
results can be applied to the competitive setting? |
| Would two or more classifiers judging the same person arrive at the
same classification status? |
| Would the same classifier arrive at the same classification status if
s/he judged the same person on more than one occasion? |
| Are the criteria for classification clearly described so that a
classifier knows what to look for? |
Qualifications and Training of Classifiers
| Who may apply to become a classifier? What background knowledge and
skills should classifier trainees possess? |
| Is there any evidence that existing training programs lead to
competence in classifying athletes? |
| How can sport governing bodies balance the need for available
classifiers for both domestic and international competitions and still
insure that classifiers are well prepared for their responsibilities? |
Expense of Classification
| Are the outcomes of the current classification systems worth the time,
effort, and funds expended? Is there a better or more streamlined way to
insure fair competition? |
The answers to these questions will be debated in the athletic arena and
in scholarly journals for some time. Perhaps you will be one of the people
who is dedicated to developing improved classification systems.
Page prepared by Gail Dummer |
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